Thursday, July 13

Even if you are not reading this we don't care. Time and again you tried todisturb us and disrupt our life - killing innocent civilians byplanting bombs in trains, buses and cars. You have tried hard to bringdeath and destruction, cause panic and fear and create communal disharmonybut every time you were disgustingly unsuccessful. Do you know how we pass ourlife in Mumbai? How much it takes for us to earn that single rupee? If youwanted to give us a shock then we are sorry to say that you failedmiserably in your ulterior motives. Better look elsewhere, not here.

We are not Hindus and Muslims or Gujaratis and Marathis or Punjabis andBengaliies. Nor do we distinguish ourselves as owners or workers,govt. employees or private employees. WE ARE MUMBAIKERS (Bombay-ites, ifyou like). We will not allow you to disrupt our life like this. On thelast few occasions when you struck (including the 7 deadlyblasts in a single day killing over 250 people and injuring 500+ in 1993), wewent to work next day in full strength. This time we cleared everythingwithin a few hours and were back to normal - the vendors placingtheir next order, businessmen finalizing the next deals and the officeworkers rushing to catch the next train. (Yes the same train you targeted)

Fathom this: Within 3 hours of the blasts, long queues of blood donatingvolunteers were seen outside various hospitals, where most of the injuredwere admitted. By 12 midnight, the hospital had to issue a notification thatblood banks were full and they didn't require any more blood. The next day,attendance at schools and office was close to 100%, trains & buseswere packed to the brim- the crowds were back.

The city has simply dusted itself off and moved one - perhapswith greater vigor.

We are Mumbaikers and we live like brothers in times like this. So, donot dare to threaten us with your crackers. The spirit of Mumbai isvery strong and cannot be harmed.

Please forward this to others. U never know, by chance it may come to hands ofa terrorist in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iraq and he can then readthis message which is specially meant for him!!!

Wednesday, July 5

Monsoon in Mumbai is an odd mix - miserable if you are a commuter, yet awe-inspiring if you are an observer of nature. Mumbai essentially has two seasons, "sweat" and "swim" - and the world has seen many images of this swimming season during the flash floods of 26th July 2005.

Yet, if one will take a moment to look upwards, especially around dawn, the sight is one to behold!

This photo is one of a series taken just before dawn, at the "magic moment" when the reflected light from the sun hits the clouds before the sun itself rises over the horizon. No spectacular tourist spot this - these photos were shot from the window of a fourth-floor apartment in Bandra's narrow and winding Chapel Road.